Related Articles

While the latest technology can certainly help to improve marketing and communications, it can sometimes do more harm than good. Unless you're properly trained in the right applications and prepared for malfunction, using media elements in presentations might not be the most effective way to get your message across. By planning for all contingencies, you can design multimedia presentations and applications to suit your needs without the risks and downfalls of using technology as a way to further your cause.

Technical Difficulties

Even the most rudimentary technical equipment can malfunction from time to time. Whether it's user error, a software malfunction or damaged hardware, difficulties can seriously derail your usage of media in various applications, especially if you're not properly prepared. By ensuring that you know how to use the right equipment and you have a backup source, you should be prepared in the event of a technical delay or issue. For instance, if you're planning on showing a multimedia presentation using a projector, ensure you have a backup copy of the presentation in hard copy form in case your technology fails.

Education

New technology and media is rolled out on a near-daily basis. If you want to implement the usage of certain media elements in presentations, education and other applications, you must first learn how to use the proper technology as well as teach others on your team to do the same. Education takes time and money and if you don't know how to properly execute all facets of a multimedia presentation, it could result in malfunction.

Compatibility

When you purchase tools to use for multimedia presentations and other applications, you must be sure that they are compatible with the equipment that you already have. Without the proper tools to decode files, display media and share video, your efforts could fall flat and your experience could be frustrating. It's imperative that you check compatibility specifications before you attempt to use tools for presentations or marketing or you could look unprepared. For instance, it you'd like to show a video, ensure that you have the proper program to support the viewing of that video loaded onto your computer or find another method for displaying that media such as burning it to a DVD and playing it via a DVD player.

Message

While media can certainly enhance your message by allowing for visual aids and props to make your presentation more effective, sometimes the message can be obscured by the very media and technology you use. By allowing the media to distract from your original message, media becomes an impediment to a presentation, even if it is the latest technology. By keeping things simple and using multimedia appropriately, it's easier to combine your media with your message for the most effective presentation by using media as an aide, not the sole purpose for your message. For instance, using a slideshow to accompany your spoken presentation or a video for demonstration could be a better option than allowing the media to do all of the communication for you.

About the Author

Kay Ireland specializes in health, fitness and lifestyle topics. She is a support worker in the neonatal intensive care and antepartum units of her local hospital and recently became a certified group fitness instructor.